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Guru Granth Sahib
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ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Sikh History & Heritage
Guru Nanak Sahib: Real Date Of Birth
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<blockquote data-quote="spnadmin" data-source="post: 148800" data-attributes="member: 35"><p><span style="color: Blue">This article is by Verpal Singh, forwarded by SPN mentor Gyani Jarnail Singh "Arshi</span>"</p><p></p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak was born in 1469 CE in this village (Talwandi) which has since been named as Nanakana Sahib (in the present-day district of Sheikhupura, now in Pakistan).</p><p></p><p>There has been a lot of controversy over the month in which he was born. Janamsakhis, i.e., the traditional biographical accounts of the life of Guru Nanak, give four different versions :</p><p></p><p>1. The Puratan Janamsakhi is based on the manuscript carried to England by H.T. Colebrooke, and preserved there in the old India Office Library. Its main characteristics are:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px">i) it does not mention Bhai Bala, who is a dominant figure in another Janamsakhi;</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">ii) its language is very precise, written in old style similar to that of the Adi Granth. It is believed to have been compiled in 1634 CE as this date has been indicated in its text;</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">iii) according to this version, Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh and not Katak.</p><p></p><p>2. Meharban's Janamsakhi, written by Manohar Das Meharban (1581-1640 CE), son of infamous Pirthi Chand. This Janamsakhi contains the earliest exposition and commentaries on the hymns of Guru Nanak. Like Puratan Janamsakhi it too does not mention Bhai Bala and gives Vaisakh, and not Katak, as the month of the Guru's birth.</p><p></p><p>3. Bhai Bala's Janamsakhi is the most popular version. It is claimed that it was dictated by a life-long companion of the Guru, viz., Bhai Bala, at the instance of the second Guru. However, the internal evidence does not support this claim. It was most probably produced in the second half of the 17th century. It has the following peculiarities :</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">i) It is dominated by Bhai Bala who introduces himself as life-long companion of the Guru.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">ii) Since it has been the most easily available version, it has spawned numerous other versions scattered all over the country.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">iii) The language used in this version is essentially colloquial and definitely dates later than that of Puratan Janamsakhi or Janamsakhi Meharban.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">iv) This Janamsakhi gives the date of birth of Guru Nanak as Katak puranmassi (full moon day of Katak).</p><p></p><p>4. Bhai Mani Singh's Janamsakhi is credited to Bhai Mani Singh, a Sikh theologian-warrior, and martyr of first half of the 18th century. It is based on first var of Bhai Gurdas which is the earliest account of Guru Nanak's life. Though it does mention the name of Bhai Bala in its account, it definitely is not dominated by him in its narration. With regard to the date of birth of Guru Nanak, it endorses the date given in the Puratan and Meharban's Janamsakhis, viz., the month of Vaisakh.</p><p></p><p>Dr Ernest Trumpp was the first non-Sikh scholar who made an effort to carefully study the Janamsakhis. According to him there are two sets of Janamsakhis, the old</p><p>tradition and the later tradition. In the old tradition he counts Puratan Janamsakhi where there is no mention of Bhai Bala. The later tradition which "pretends to have knowledge of all details of the life of Nanak was, therefore, compelled to put forth, as voucher for its sundry tales and stories, Bhai Bala, who is said to have been the constant companion of Nanak from his youth up, whereas our old Janamsakhi does not even once mention Bhai Bala. If Bhai Bala had been a constant companion of Nanak and a sort of mentor to him as he appears now in the current Janamsakhi, it would be quite incomprehensible why never a single allusion should have been made to him in old tradition.6</p><p></p><p>The writers who advocate that Guru Nanak's natal month was Katak give the following arguments :</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">i) The Sikhs have been celebrating the birth anniversary of the Guru in the month of Katak. Actually, nobody knows when this practice started, although Macauliffe stated that it started in the days of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.7 All the Sikhs could not have stopped celebrating Guru's birth anniversary in Vaisakh at the instance of one man (Giani Sant Singh in this case), however highly placed that person might have been. So, the actual practice of celebrating Guru's birthday goes a long way in favour of Katak.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">ii) In the eyes of the faithful, Bhai Bala's Janamsakhi holds supreme. It is believed, albeit erroneously, that it had been written by the life-long companion of Guru Nanak, at the instance of Guru Angad, the second Guru. This gives the date of birth of the Guru to be in the month of Katak.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">iii) In 1823 CE, Bhai Santokh Singh completed his Nanak Parkash, one of the most popular works being recited in the gurdwaras. It also gives the date of birth of the Guru in the month of Katak. It is, therefore, argued that had the date of Guru's birth been in Vaisakh, Bhai Santokh Singh would not have stuck to Katak</p><p>.</p><p></p><p>But the following arguments appear to be more convincing in favour of Vaisakh as the month of birth of the Guru.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px">i) All old records like Puratan Janamsakhi which is definitely older than Bhai Bala's and Bhai Mani Singh's Janamsakhis, give the Guru's natal month as Vaisakh. It is argued that these accounts should have mentioned Katak, had this been the natal month.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">ii) There are a number of accounts of Guru Nanak written by the descendants of the Gurus besides Meharban, grandson of Guru Ram Das, who wrote the Janamsakhi mentioned above. One is Mehma Parkash compiled by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776 CE. Another is Guru Nanak Bans Parkash by Sukhwasi Rai, an old manuscript recently published by the Punjabi University, Patiala. All these works mention that Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">iii) In another way too it has been proved that the Guru was born in the month of Vaisakh.</p><p>It is accepted that the life span of Guru Nanak was seventy years, five months, and seven days, and it is also accepted that the Guru died on Asu Sudi 10, 1596 BK. If we calculate on this basis, we come to the conclusion that the Guru was born in the month of Vaisakh. Karam Singh Historian, who conducted a thorough probe into the date of birth of Guru Nanak in his book, Katak ké Vaisakh, has proved conclusively that Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh.8</p><p></p><p>References:</p><p>6. Trumpp, Ernest : The Adi Granth, 'Introduction', London, 1877, p. 5.</p><p>7. Macauliffe, M.A. : The Sikh Religion, Vol. I, Delhi, reprint 1990, p. LXXXIV.</p><p>8. Karam Singh Historian wrote a research monograph on this issue which was published with the title Katak ké Vaisakh, Amritsar, 1912. He argued in favour of Vaisakh. Recently, another book came out by Ishar Singh, Vaisakh Nahi Katak, which argues in favour of Katak.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="spnadmin, post: 148800, member: 35"] [COLOR="Blue"]This article is by Verpal Singh, forwarded by SPN mentor Gyani Jarnail Singh "Arshi[/COLOR]" Guru Nanak was born in 1469 CE in this village (Talwandi) which has since been named as Nanakana Sahib (in the present-day district of Sheikhupura, now in Pakistan). There has been a lot of controversy over the month in which he was born. Janamsakhis, i.e., the traditional biographical accounts of the life of Guru Nanak, give four different versions : 1. The Puratan Janamsakhi is based on the manuscript carried to England by H.T. Colebrooke, and preserved there in the old India Office Library. Its main characteristics are: [INDENT]i) it does not mention Bhai Bala, who is a dominant figure in another Janamsakhi; ii) its language is very precise, written in old style similar to that of the Adi Granth. It is believed to have been compiled in 1634 CE as this date has been indicated in its text; iii) according to this version, Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh and not Katak.[/INDENT] 2. Meharban's Janamsakhi, written by Manohar Das Meharban (1581-1640 CE), son of infamous Pirthi Chand. This Janamsakhi contains the earliest exposition and commentaries on the hymns of Guru Nanak. Like Puratan Janamsakhi it too does not mention Bhai Bala and gives Vaisakh, and not Katak, as the month of the Guru's birth. 3. Bhai Bala's Janamsakhi is the most popular version. It is claimed that it was dictated by a life-long companion of the Guru, viz., Bhai Bala, at the instance of the second Guru. However, the internal evidence does not support this claim. It was most probably produced in the second half of the 17th century. It has the following peculiarities : [INDENT]i) It is dominated by Bhai Bala who introduces himself as life-long companion of the Guru. ii) Since it has been the most easily available version, it has spawned numerous other versions scattered all over the country. iii) The language used in this version is essentially colloquial and definitely dates later than that of Puratan Janamsakhi or Janamsakhi Meharban. iv) This Janamsakhi gives the date of birth of Guru Nanak as Katak puranmassi (full moon day of Katak).[/INDENT] 4. Bhai Mani Singh's Janamsakhi is credited to Bhai Mani Singh, a Sikh theologian-warrior, and martyr of first half of the 18th century. It is based on first var of Bhai Gurdas which is the earliest account of Guru Nanak's life. Though it does mention the name of Bhai Bala in its account, it definitely is not dominated by him in its narration. With regard to the date of birth of Guru Nanak, it endorses the date given in the Puratan and Meharban's Janamsakhis, viz., the month of Vaisakh. Dr Ernest Trumpp was the first non-Sikh scholar who made an effort to carefully study the Janamsakhis. According to him there are two sets of Janamsakhis, the old tradition and the later tradition. In the old tradition he counts Puratan Janamsakhi where there is no mention of Bhai Bala. The later tradition which "pretends to have knowledge of all details of the life of Nanak was, therefore, compelled to put forth, as voucher for its sundry tales and stories, Bhai Bala, who is said to have been the constant companion of Nanak from his youth up, whereas our old Janamsakhi does not even once mention Bhai Bala. If Bhai Bala had been a constant companion of Nanak and a sort of mentor to him as he appears now in the current Janamsakhi, it would be quite incomprehensible why never a single allusion should have been made to him in old tradition.6 The writers who advocate that Guru Nanak's natal month was Katak give the following arguments : [INDENT]i) The Sikhs have been celebrating the birth anniversary of the Guru in the month of Katak. Actually, nobody knows when this practice started, although Macauliffe stated that it started in the days of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.7 All the Sikhs could not have stopped celebrating Guru's birth anniversary in Vaisakh at the instance of one man (Giani Sant Singh in this case), however highly placed that person might have been. So, the actual practice of celebrating Guru's birthday goes a long way in favour of Katak. ii) In the eyes of the faithful, Bhai Bala's Janamsakhi holds supreme. It is believed, albeit erroneously, that it had been written by the life-long companion of Guru Nanak, at the instance of Guru Angad, the second Guru. This gives the date of birth of the Guru to be in the month of Katak. iii) In 1823 CE, Bhai Santokh Singh completed his Nanak Parkash, one of the most popular works being recited in the gurdwaras. It also gives the date of birth of the Guru in the month of Katak. It is, therefore, argued that had the date of Guru's birth been in Vaisakh, Bhai Santokh Singh would not have stuck to Katak[/INDENT]. But the following arguments appear to be more convincing in favour of Vaisakh as the month of birth of the Guru. [INDENT]i) All old records like Puratan Janamsakhi which is definitely older than Bhai Bala's and Bhai Mani Singh's Janamsakhis, give the Guru's natal month as Vaisakh. It is argued that these accounts should have mentioned Katak, had this been the natal month. ii) There are a number of accounts of Guru Nanak written by the descendants of the Gurus besides Meharban, grandson of Guru Ram Das, who wrote the Janamsakhi mentioned above. One is Mehma Parkash compiled by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776 CE. Another is Guru Nanak Bans Parkash by Sukhwasi Rai, an old manuscript recently published by the Punjabi University, Patiala. All these works mention that Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh. iii) In another way too it has been proved that the Guru was born in the month of Vaisakh.[/INDENT] It is accepted that the life span of Guru Nanak was seventy years, five months, and seven days, and it is also accepted that the Guru died on Asu Sudi 10, 1596 BK. If we calculate on this basis, we come to the conclusion that the Guru was born in the month of Vaisakh. Karam Singh Historian, who conducted a thorough probe into the date of birth of Guru Nanak in his book, Katak ké Vaisakh, has proved conclusively that Guru Nanak was born in the month of Vaisakh.8 References: 6. Trumpp, Ernest : The Adi Granth, 'Introduction', London, 1877, p. 5. 7. Macauliffe, M.A. : The Sikh Religion, Vol. I, Delhi, reprint 1990, p. LXXXIV. 8. Karam Singh Historian wrote a research monograph on this issue which was published with the title Katak ké Vaisakh, Amritsar, 1912. He argued in favour of Vaisakh. Recently, another book came out by Ishar Singh, Vaisakh Nahi Katak, which argues in favour of Katak. [/QUOTE]
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Guru Nanak Sahib: Real Date Of Birth
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